AFE Analyst of the Year

Rewarding Excellence in Accelerated Feature Extraction

Overwatch Geospatial Systems awarded Mike Diller as the 2007 AFE Analyst of the Year. Diller has been using Feature Analyst to map illicit crop production. The award was presented at the 2008 Overwatch Geospatial Users Conference.

Nominees & Winners

Read first hand accounts and view photographs of some of the additional projects and events in which Feature Analyst®, LIDAR Analyst®, and other AFE software systems have improved GIS efforts across the globe. Titles link to the full story.

Feature Analyst: Applications Abound

2006 Winner: Jason San Souci, Director, Geospatial Applications, of the Native Communities Development Corporation (NCDC). San Souci’s submission highlighted a variety of NCDC projects that employed Feature Analyst to develop an advanced, multi-iteration accelerated feature extraction (AFE) methodology used to classify image datasets. For a demonstration of a typical Feature Analyst workflow for a civil government project, view his video here.

Landscape Scale Assessment of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Habitat in Apalachicola National Forest Using Feature Analyst

The USDA Forest Service assessed the conditions of an 85,000-acre area identified as the core habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker. A major tactic in this study involved using Feature Analyst to interpret aerial imagery of the forest ecosystems in order to examine the environment's suitability as the bird's habitat.

A Remote Sensing Based Tree Inventory for the Mississippi State University Campus

A collaborative effort between the MSU Forestry Department, Landscape Architecture Department and the U.S. Forest Service
was initiated in an attempt to automate tree species identification from high-resolution multi-spectral imagery. Feature Analyst enabled these experts to classify trees and distinguish them accurately from the surrounding vegetation.

UW Students Research Satellite Imagery to Map Northwest Tree Fruit and Grapes

A group of students at the University of Washington researched the potential for mapping tree fruit and grapes for acreage surveys to assist the wine industry. The research team relied on commercial satellite imagery and Feature Analyst to complete its study, with promising results.

Performance Assessment of Accelerated Feature Extraction Tools on High Resolution Imagery

Daniel A. Lavigne, of Defence Research and Development Canada, et al, compare three AFE tools designed to help image analysts in the extraction of geospatial features, and address specific tasks such as object detection for change detection purposes. This paper presents an assessment of the performance Feature Analyst, eCognition, and Genie Pro to extract man-made objects for change detection on high resolution airborne and spaceborne electro-optic imagery.

Feature Analyst Technology Enables NCDC to Assess Wildfire Risk (2005 AFE Analyst of the Year)

NCDC identified high density timber areas and individual tree crowns along with buildings and other flammable structures using Feature Analyst for its rapid, accurate extraction capability. In visual illustrations, NCDC shows the critical response advantages of using Feature Analyst in the event of a wildfire.

Feature Analyst for GeoMedia Utilized for Change Detection in Disaster-Stricken Areas

The GeoIntelligence e-zine published this article in February 2006 featuring the benefits of rapid and effective change detection using Feature Analyst and other image analysis tools. The ability to quickly assess imagery in an emergency situation is often necessary in taking corrective action.

NOAA-funded Research Develops Mapping Prototype to Benefit Oyster Resources (2004 AFE Analyst of the Year)

Using Feature Analyst, NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) has created the precedent for mapping oyster reefs. With the model in place, resource managers can obtain more timely information on the changing condition of oyster resources and better determine the steps required for restoration.

US Army Utilizes Feature Analyst Technology to Study Urban Sprawl

Earth Observation Magazine (EOM) published an article in April 2005 featuring the Army's use of Feature Analyst to study the perpetual increase in urban growth that is threatening its military installment in Fort Benning, Ga. The objective of the study was to identify the population increase and its negative impacts on military operations and natural ecosystems so that preventative measures could be established. Click here to go directly to the EOM website (new window will open) .

Forest Service Builds Accurate Vegetation Map with Feature Analyst

The USDA Forest Service Remote Sensing Applications Center assessed the Feature Analyst software in 2002, calling it "ideal for forest specialists of all backgrounds." In the report, forestry experts using Feature Analyst were able to correctly separate forest from non-forest areas as well as differentiate between conifer and hardwood tree types.

San Diego River Improvement Plan Utilizes Feature Analyst to Map Areas of Interest

Using Feature Analyst, the County of San Diego's Department of Planning and Land Use conducted research to determine the potential storm water impact of residential land use. The report called the Feature Analyst software "a very powerful tool that requires relatively little time to refine and train in order to generate classifications which are predominately correct."

Submit your own success story using AFE technology for a chance to win the 2008 AFE Analyst of the Year award.

Formatting requirements on paper submissions are as follows: (1) send a detailed, typewritten document, preferably .doc format or .rtf; (2) include captions or descriptions for all images; and (3) images may be embedded in the document or attached separately, preferably in .tif, .png, .jpg, .bmp, or .gif format.

Submit papers less than 10MB via email to sales@vls-inc.com. For papers larger than 10MB and for more information about this award, contact VLS and a representative will be happy to assist you.